Register.



W. N. HOWDEN.

REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l5. lsu.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. N. HOWDEN.

Patented N dv. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. HOWDEN, 0F DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE AUTO GAS REGISTER COMPANY, OF V'ATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CGN- NECTICUT.

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Application filed February 15, 1917.

To all 'wlw/m, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. HowDnN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My present invention relates to manually operated registers, but more specifically stated it relates to registers of the single axis, multiple hand type, employing a casing, a suitably graduated dial, a plurality of indicating hands, and means, under control of the operator, for actuating said hands with accuracy and precision.

The invention has for an object the pro duction of instruments of the character inflicated, which are at once extremely simple in construction, as also in the arrangement and combination of their component parts; instruments which, because of their simplicity, are not likely to become deranged or getout of order, instruments which are comparatively economical 'to manufacture, and which are highly elicient in the performance of theirl intended functions.

A further object is the production of registers of the character indicated which are so compact in form that they may, if desired. be used as pocket pieces; and so operatively dependable that they may be used by inexperienced and experienced persons with equally good results.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, it will be apparent that the preesnt invention has a wide range of usefulness, being equally well adapted to register the purchase, acquisition or accumulation of any particular commodity; to indicate distances traveled. time consumed, moneys eXpended.or similar facts without limit. More particularly stated, however. the invention was designed primarily for use in connection with motor vehicles, and for registering cumulativelv by gallons the amount of gasolene supplied thereto.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Serial No. 148,809.

The invention will be hereinafter particularly described, and then pointed out by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application for Letters Patent, and whereupon like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention arranged and adapted more especially for attachment to the dash or instrument board of an automobile, motor boat, 0r other vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the completely assembled register shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of register, upon an enlarged scale. for the sake of clearness` taken immediately beneath its face plate, and showing the operating mechanism in plan.

Fig. 4 is also a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, but taken in a different vertical plane.

Fig. 5 is a vertical central section taken through the register case and contents at right angles to Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section at the left side of the register.

Fig. 7 is also a fragmentary view in horizontal section at the opposite or right side of register.

Figs. 8 and 9 are both detached views in perspective illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 10 a fragmentarv view in plan taken at one edge of the register casing. and,

Fig. 11. like Fist. 1. is a face view of the invention when adapted for use as a pocket piece.

Reference being had to the drawings and characters thereon. the numeral 12 indicates a register case similar in size and `general appearance to that of a watch. having a cvlindrical inclosing wall flanged radially at its base as at 13. and provided with screw cr bolt holes 14 for attachment to the instrument board of an automobile or other support. The inner circumference of thel cvlindrical casing 12 is shouldered as at 15, and into this recess is fitted a centrally perforated face plate 16 bearing upon its outer surface a suitable dial 17 also centrally perforated, the casing being completed by an ordinary bezel-ring and crystal, as shown. The said dial 17 is preferably made of celluloid, and is configured by an outer circular series of degree marks and unit indicating numerals a, while in concentric relation there is also a second circular scale in conjunction with which there is an appropriate arrailigement of multiple-indicating numerals of Obviously the aforesaid arrangement of graduated scales may be varied indefinitely to meet various conditions and requirements, the particular form herein shown and described being merely by way of exemplification.

Offset from the face plate 16by inwardly extending studs 18 is a back plate 19 also by preference of circular form and of a diameter to lit loosely within casing 12, and projecting forwardly from the center of said back-plate is a shouldered pivot-pin 20 constituting the main axis of the structure.

Surrounding this pin 20 in a plane adjacent that occupied by the back-plate 19 from which it projects is an actuating lever 21 provided with a spring pressed push pawl 21', and radiallyarranged, the same being angled forwardly near its upper end where it emergesy from casing 12 through an arcuate slot 22 of suitable length, and is provided with a spherical terminal 23. In a plane next adjacent that occupied by the said actuating lever 21 is a unithand ratchet-wheel. 24, affixed tothe inner end of a tubular arbor 25, surrounding pivot-pin 20, and projecting forward through the face-plate 16 Where it attached to the long or unit hand 26, as shown by Fig. it the vertical center of bacl:-plate 19, and reciprocally mounted upon studs 27 projecting from said plate, is an operating push-bar 28 retained in place bya headed screw 29. Extending forwardly at its upper end similarly as does the actuating lever 21, the pushbar 28 protrudes through an opening at the front of casing 12, `where as shown, it is finished with a spherical knob 30. This push-bar 2S is thus afforded a vertically reciprocating motion, against the resistance of an underlying leaf spring 81, which latter serves to'return same to its normal position after each reciprocal movement of the slide. 1t is also provided with a lateral extension 32 as a convenient means of pivotally. mounting a springpressed pusli-pawl 33 constantly in engagement with the teeth of the` aforesaid unithand ratchet-wheel 24, as best shown by Fig. 4.

. Projecting from the front of the unithandv ratchet-wheel 24 are a series of equidistant studs 34, in the path of which are located the points ofal star wheel Svforined with a spur gear 36 concentrically located upon its outer surface, and pivotally mounted upon a stub l'iearing which projects from the back plate 19 of the structure.

Surrounding the long hand or unit-hand arbor 25, is a similar and somewhat shorter tubular' arbor 37, upon the outer projecting end of which is affixed a multiple indicating hand 38, and upon the inner end of which is formed, or securely atlixed, a multiple hand ratchet-wheel 39 similar to the aforesaid wheel 24 from which it is offset by an inwardly extending hub 40, so as to insure clearance for the studs 34 in their passage.

Surrounding the short or multiple-hand arbor 37 is a third and still shorter tubular arbor 41 carrying upon its projecting end an auxiliary indicating hand 42, and having at its opposite end an auxiliary ratchetwheel 43, similar to the aforesaid wheels 24 and 31, and for like purposes, as will later appear', while, loosely journaled upon the last named arbor 41 intermediate of gear 43 and the face plate 16 is a second actuating lever, which may be termed. the auxiliary actuating lever 44. This lever corresponds with the hereinbefore described lever 21, except that it extends directly through an independent limiting slot 45, of arcuate form, in the wall of casing 12, and operates upon the ratchet wheel by agency of its springpressed pawl 46, the projecting end of this lever also being finished with a spherical knob 47 corresponding with the knobs 23 and 30.

Projecting from the base plate 19 is a slotted stud 48 to which is aflixed a comblike leaf spring 4S the individual teeth or prongs of which are slightly curved at their free ends to engage the teeth 0f ratchet wheels 24, 39 and 43, thus serving as a clicking detent to prevent retrograde movement, and audiblj indicate each degree registered by the indicating hands.

For the lsaid ratchet wheels 24, 39 and 43 there is also provided a lock common to all, consisting of a unitary slide 49 adapted to reciprocate freely in a pair of radial grooves 50 formed in the front and back plates 16 and 19, respectively, and having a somewhat sharpened advance edge adapted to be directed between the teeth of said ratchet wheels when it is desired to lock them against rotation, This sliding lock 49 is normally retracted by agency of a spring 51 secured to the back plate 19, and the free end of this spring passes loosely through a slot in one side thereof; while its outermost end 53, somewhat reduced in Width so as to clear platesl 16 and 19, is angled or inclined upwardly, as shown by Fig. 9, and terminates in a transversely `Qrooved edge 54 as shown. As a means of actuating the said lock 49 a stud 54 is provided, the same being arranged and adapted to partake of a slight circumferential movement in a slot 55 fornied in the wall of casing 12 adjacent the location of lock 49. As the point of this stud 54 'travels up the incline 53 obviously the lock 49 is advanced into locking position, and so long as the said point .is seated .in the transverse groove the lock is retained in such locked relation against the tension of the retracting spring 51.

Upon the opposite side of casing 12 from that occupied by the aforesaid locking mechanism there is mounted a resetting wheel 56 having teeth adapted to at times engage those of the spur gea-r 36 hereinbefore described. The axle of the resetting wheel 56 is shouldered at its ends and munted in a pair of tangentially arranged slots 57 formed in the top and bottom plates 16 and 19 along which it is thus adapted to travel into and out of engagement with the spur wheel 36, there being a spring 58 for retaining these gears in engagement except when forcibly disengaged by means now to be described.

Adjacent the location of said resetting wheel 56 the wall of casing 12 is broken by a circumferential slot 59 in line with the resetting wheel 56, and through the relatively narrow portion of this slot the said wheel 56 projects during the operation of resetting the multiple indicating hand 38. Traveling in the upper or relatively wider portion of slot 59 is a shifting screw 60 which is limited in the extent of its movement in said slot by length of the widened portion thereof and at its inner end is threaded into a restraining slide 61, the latter being flanged upon opposite edges so as to run freely in cireumfen ential grooves 62 formed in the top and loottom plates 16 and 19, respectively. This reset-operating or restraining slide 61, as best shown by Fig. 8. is bifurcated as at 63 so as to straddle the re-setting wheel 56, both ends thereof being angled backwardly as shown, thus affording an inclined rest. for the axle of said resetting wheel 56 for purposes later to appear in a brief description of operation.

When it is desired to actuate the long hand or unit hand 26 one degree at a time upon the scale a, or in other words. in a step-by-step manner, knob 30 is depressed by the linger of an operator, causing a downward movement of push-bar 28, whereupon its pawl advances ratchet wheel 24 a single tooth., and with it the arbor 25 and hand 26 a corresponding distance, or one degrec; this accomplished, spring 31 returns said operating slide to its normal position read'v to repeat the aforesaid operation as often as desired. And it will be apparent that each time the unit hand ratchet wheel 24 makes one-fifth of one complete revolution one of its projecting pins 34 engages and moves one point of the star wheel 35. With this star wheel the spur pinion 36 also moves one tooth or one-tenth of one revolution, and with it the short hand gear wheel 39 rotates proportionately, carrying with it the multiple hand 38 one degree. Accord ingly, each time the unit hand 26 completes one cycle upon its scale a the multiple hand 38 traverses five degrees upon its scale Z), thus registering one hundred.

ln addition to the operation just described, the ratchet wheel 24 and all parts in train therewith may be actuated cumulativcly or ten degrees at a time? when desired, by agency of thc actuating lever 21, moving through slot 22 of the casing throw of the said lever 21 to the limit of its confining slot 22 in a clockwise direction rotates the said ratchet wheel 24 a corresponding distance represented by ten degrees upon scale L through agency of its spring-pressed push-pawl 21 which is constantly in engage ment with the teeth of said ratchet-wheel; and, during this operation, the remaining parts in tram with the said wheel 24 will cooperate therewith, as before described.

The auxiliary hand 42 is also operated through its actuating lever 44, pusli-pawl 46 and the ratchet-wheel 43 by practically the same lever operation as heretofore described, except that slot 45 limits the throw of this lever 44 to five degrees, and the indicating hand 42, registering upon the outermost scale Z) of the face plate 17, a like number.

1f for any reason it is desired to lock all of the ratchet wheels 24. 39 and 43 against rotation, the operator merelyY advances stud 54 in its slot 55 from the position indicated by Fig. 3 to that indicated by Fig. 4. during which movement the innermost point of stud 54 travels up incline 53 of the locl'- ing slide 49, thus advancing said slide in its guide grooves 50 until its sharpened ad vance edge is seated between two teeth of each wheel. At this instant also the point of the stud 54 will have seated itself in the transverse depression 54 which holds it against accidental dislodgment. but when forcibly removed from this position back to its normal position` the spring 51 automatically exerts itself to withdraw the locking slide and thus release all wheels 24. 39 and 43.

When it is desired to reset the indicating hands 26 or 42, both of which are arranged and adapted to be moved rapidly by the levers 21 and 44. respectively, this is accomplished by simply moving them ahead in a clockwise direction by agency of the said levers; but with the multiple indicating hand 38 conditions are different, and for the purpose of resetting this the reset wheel 56 is employed in the following manner:

An upward movement of the shifting screw G0 lifts the reset operating or restraining slide 6l proportionately, whereupon spring 58 forces the axis ofthe reset wheel 56 along tangential slots 57 from the position indicated by Fig. d to that indicated by if ig. 3, its teeth then being inkmesh with those ot the spur wheel 3G which latter, in turn, mesh at all times with those of the gear wheel 39. y In this relation of gears an upward movement of that portion of the reset wheel 5G which projects from casing l2 through its slot 59 transmits motion through the said pinion gear 39, and tubular arbor 37 to the multiple indicating hand 88, which may thus be quicirly advanced in a clockwise direction to the desired resetting position.

After this operation, a reverse movement of screw 60 and slide (il Ytor-ces tl."A reset wheel out of engagement with spur pinion 3G, thus rendering 'the wheel inoperatrfe. ily engagement of its axis with the .bifurcated inclined end 63 o t vslide (il the wheel is returned along its. retainino` slots 57 to the position indicated by Fig. a, where, if desired, it may be securely retained hva partial turn of the screw (il), or it may be further advanced, as Vindicated by dotted lines in Fig. il, entirelj,v within the contines oi casing l2 to Yfacilitate removal of the register works with this reset wher-l 5G still in an assembled position.

rIlhc foregoingbeing a description ont one complete and operative embodiment ot my present invention, what I now cl im and de sire to secure b v Letters Patent is:

l. In a register of the class described the combination with a casing, a suitable dial and an indicatingv hand, ot' a ratchetwheel operatively connected with said hand, a slotted push-bar mounted inv said casing movable in a radial direction only and havingy a lateral extension, a pawl pivot-ally mounted on said extension adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel to ad4 vance same one tooth at a time with cac-l1 radial thrust of the push-bar, and means for guiding said push-bar in its radially reciprocating movement.

2. In a register of the class described 'the combination with a casing. a suitable dial and indicating hands, of a ratchet-wheel opperatively connected with each otv said hands, means for rotating said ratchetwheels a predetermined distance, and a loci; extending through said casing and connnozi to all of said wheels to prevent rotation vthereof in either direction.

3. In a register of the class described the combination with a casing, a suitable dial and indicating hands, of a ratchet wheel operatively connected with each ot said hands, means .for rotating said ratchetwheels a. predetermined distance, a radially movable lockingslide adapted to be projected between the teeth oi" all of said wheels, means for advancing said slide, and a spring Tor returning said slide to its normal .position.

4L. In a register of the class described the combination with a casing, a suitable dial and indicating hands, of a ratchet-wheel operatively connected with each or' said hands, means for rotating said ratchet wheels a predetermined distance, a. radially movable locking slide having an inclined outer end, and a circumferentially movable actuating stud projecting through said register casing adapted in its movement along said angular end to project the inner end ot the locking slide between the teeth of said ratchet wheels.

5. In a register ot the classvdescribed the combination with a. casing, a suitable dial and indicating hands, of a ratchet wheel operatively connected with each of said hands, means for rotating said ratchet wheels a predetermined distance, and a. Ireset wheel. adapted to intermesh with one ol5 said ratchet-wheels to reset its particular indicating hand and bodily movable upon its sin porting axis in tangential guideways Within the contines ol said casing waen not rcquircd tor resetting purposes.

6. In a register of the class described the combination with a casing.rv suitable dial and a multiple indicating hand, ot a ratchetwheel operatively connected with said hand, a reset wheel adapted to gear with said ratchet-wheel, a circumferential slot in the register casing through which. the reset Wheel protrudes. and an operating slide tor forcing said reset wheel ont of gear and restraining it in disconnected relation.

7. In a register of the class described the combination. with a casing, a suitable dial and a multiple indicating hand, 0i a ratchet- 4wheel operatively connected with said hand,

a reset wheel adapted to gear with said ratchet-wheel, a. circumferential opening in the register casing through which the resetwheel protrudes, and an operating slide having a biturcated end engaging the axle of said reset wheel to force it out of operative engagement with the ratchet-wheel aforesaid.

8. In a register ot the class described thecombination with s casing, a suitable dial and a multiple indicatinpghand, of a ratchetwheel operatively connected with said hand` a reset wheel. adapted to gear with said ratchet wheel, a circumferential opening in the register casing through which the reset wheel protrudes, a springl for normally holding said reset wheel in gear with said ratchet wheel, an operating slide having a bifurcated angular. end adapted to engage tial slot in said casing through which the reset Wheel projects, and an operating slide under control oi the operator for forcing said reset Wheel along said tangential slots and 15 restraining it in disconnected relation.

ln testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WLLIAM N. HOWDEN. Witnesses:

R. D. CUSHING, VILLARD S. vVVICKARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

